Railway-car brake



H. W. SANFORD RAILWAY CAR BRAKE Nov. 24, 1925- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 15, 1921 Nov. 24, 1925 H. w. SANFORD RAILWAY cm BRAKE Filed April15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

RAILWAY-CAR BRAKE.

Application filed April 1 5, 1921.

it known that I, Hnen TV. Samoan, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knoll: and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Car Brakes, ofwhich the -following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying draw- 111g.

My improven ient relates particularly to brakes for mine cars andsimilar small cars.

The object of the invention to simplify and reduce cost and at the sametime producean eflective brake.

In the accom anying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part-c1. a mine car embodying myimprovement;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same car;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line, 3-8, of Fig. 2, looking toward theright;

Fig. at a side elevation of car embodying my invention in another form;

Fig. 5 is an upright section on the line, 55, of Fig. 4,1ookii1gintliedirection or" the arrow;

Fig. 6 is'a detail view showing some parts of the mechanism separatedfrom each other.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings, A is the car body,and B, B are the car wheels. C, C are two brake straps,

one of which is applied to each of two wheels B, at the same side of thecar.

Between the wheels and above the level of the axles are two bracketbearings, D, D, which are secured to the body of the car and receivesthe horizontal rock shaft, E, which also rests in a third bracketbearing, D located on the side of the car body, near the right hand endof the car as shown in Fig. 1. Between the bearings, D, D, the shaft, E,is bent laterally to ior'm a crank, E extending outward away from thecar a short distance. Two hangers, F, F, are supported by the crank, Eand extend downward, and each has it lower end, F bent toward theadjacent Wheel. A hori- Zontal bridge bar, F extends from one hanger, F,to the other and has oblique ends, F bearing against the oblique ends, Fof the hangers. A bolt, F, extends through each end of the bridge plateand the adjaent hanger and the adjacent upturned end, C, of the adjacentbrake strap, C. Nuts, F are placed on said bolt to bind the hangers andthe bridge plate to each other and to bind the brake strap against thehead of Serial no. 431,562,

the bolt. The opposite end of the brake strap is secured to a bracket, Osecured to theside oi the car bod in position to bring that end of thebrake strap lower than the upper part of the adjacent wheel.

The nut-s, F which are located at ep a site sides of the ends, F and Fof the hangers, F, and bridge bar, F permit-making separate adjustmentbetween each brake strap andthe crank. It said nuts on either bolt aremoved toward the headxcif that bolt, the contact between the adjacentetrapend the adjacent wheel will be made scener By means of thisadjustment, the pa rts ay be so. arranged as to cause 'siimiltaneousen"- gagement between the straps and the wheels.

From the bracket bearing, 13 the rock shaft, E, extends horizontallytoward the I right beyond the end of the car body. There it is benthorizontally across the end of the car body and parallel to the latterto form a long arm, E Near its end, said arm is flattened to form ablade E havin-ga lower outward-directed edge, E. An approxi matelyupright rack bar, E having teeth, E extends across the arm, E and iscured to the end of the "car body bybolts, E. The edge, E of 'theblade,E is'adapted to engage the teeth, E, and prevent downward movement ofthe arm, E

The cra k, E and the arm, -E are at opposite sides of the axial line ofthe shaft, E. Hence when the arm, E raised, the crank, ET, is moveddownward, whereby the hangers, F, the bridge bar, F the bolts, F and theadjacent ends of the brake straps are forced downward, whereby the brakestraps are put under tension and made to bear a'ctively upon the wheels,B, When the brakes are to be set, the arm, E is raised manually anddrawn againist the teeth, E, of the rack bar, E so as to make engagementbe tween the edge, E and one of said teeth when the arm reaches itsupper limit, Thus the arm will be locked, and thereby the en gagement ofthe brake straps is maintained. This engagement is intensified throughthe flexibility of the shaft, E, and the arm, E the shaft and said armbeing together of suflicient length to allow appreciable flexing,although a short section of the shaft or arm would be practicallyinflexible.

While provision is thus made for effectiv'ely applying the brake strapsand holding them when applied, provision is also m at made forautomatically holding the brake straps out of engagement whenapplication is not desired. This is accomplished by placing the weightof the relatively long arm, F3, in opposition to the crank, E and theparts supported by said crank. When the arm, E has been released fromthe teeth of the rack bar, E said arm, by the action of gravity assumesits lowest position and by its downward movement lifts the relativelyshort crank, E and all the parts supported thereby, whereby tne brakestraps are held out of action. The arm, E as shown, extends across theend of the car, and, as above indicated, such length gives the arm theweight needed to adapt the arm to tend to turn the rock shaft for therelease of the brake mechanism. Furthermore, h us lengthening the armmakes it accessible by an attendant from either side of the car.

It is now to be observed that a minimum amount of mechanism and simplemovements are involved in the effective application of the brakes. Toapply brake mechanism to two wheels, one being located at one side andthe other at the other side of the car, as has heretofore been done,requires mechanism that is more complex and more expensive to construct.In this connection, it is to be ob served that in cars of this class,the body of the car usually extends downward close to the track andprecludes use of the type of brake construction used in larger railwaycars having bodies high above the tracks.

In the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the rock shaft, E, rests in onlytwo bearings, D and D and the crank is a single arm, E to which iscoupled the upper'end of a stem, G, which extends slidably through abracket, G and through the single brake strap, H, extending from onebracket, C to the other bracket, C and said strap extending downwardbetween the two wheels. The stem, G, also extends through a. washerplate, G resting on the strap and making wider engagement with the strapthan would be made if the nut, G bore upon the strap. A nut, G surroundssaid stem above said plate and below the strap two nuts, G", surroundsaid stem. By raising or lowering the nuts, G and G on the stem, G, thestrap, H, is adjusted relative to said stem, for bringing the arm, E tothe desired angle when the straps engage the wheels. The opening in thebracket, G through which the stem, G, extends is larger than thethickness of said stem in the direction parallel to the length of thecar, in order that the lower part of the stem, G, may swing parallel tothe length of the car for equalizing engagement of the strap on thewheels. (Fig. 4).

The operation of this form of the mechanism is similar to the operationof the mechanism shown by Figs. 1, 2 and 3. W hen the arm, I is raised,the stem, G, is forced downward, whereby the strap H, is applied to thetwo wheels, When the arm, E is free, the stem, G, is lifted by theweight of the arm, FF, whereby the strap, fl, is lifted.

It is now to be observed that both forms of the structure may beproduced with a limited amount of labor. No castings are needed ineither form. In the first form no forging is needed excepting to formthe rack bar and the blade, E on the arm, E The restof the work ismerely cutting and punching and bending. The bolts, F are ordinary boltsthreaded to the head. The nuts are ordinary stock nuts. The brackets,

C D and D are formed of ordinary stock a metal. In the form of Figs. l,5 and 6, the arm, E and the stem, G, are produced by simple forging. Itis also to be observed that the application of the various parts to thecar is easily accomplished.

I claim as my invention,

1. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means jointed to saidcrank and adapted to be pressed downward into engagement with said wheelwhen said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, and rigidmeans extending approximately horizontally across the end of the car andnormally acting on said shaft to turn said shaft to lift said crank andsaid brake means and said turning means being adapted. to be movedmanually to turn said shaft in the opposite direction, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, means, including a brake strap,jointed to said crank and adapted to press said strap into engagementwith said wheel when said rock sha 't is'turned to move said crankdownward, and rigid means extending appror-zimately horizontally acrossthe end of the car and normally acting to turn said shaft to lift saidcrank and said brake means and said turning means being adapted to bemoved manually to turn said shaft in the opposite direction,substantially as described.

3. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of the car,of a hori- -zontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said wheel whensaid rocl: shaft is turned to move said crank downward, an arm on saidshaftat the side of the latter opposite the crank and extendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, whereby the weightof said arm q in mea /9e will lift said crank and the brake means whensaid arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sidesof the car, and means for engaging and holding said arm when said shafthas been turned to make said engagement, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, means, including abrakestrap, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said wheel when said rock shaft .is turned to more saidcrank downward, an arm on said shaft at the side of the latter oppositethe crank and extending approximately horizontally acr the end of thecar, whereby the weight of said arm will lift said crank and the. brakemeans when said arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible fromboth sides of the car, and means for engaging and holding said arm whensaid shaft has been turned to make said engagement, substam tially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a ar body and two wheels at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said two wheelswhen said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, a. long armrigid on the rock shaft and extending approximately horizontally acrossthe end of the car, and scans for engaging and holding said arm whensaid arm has been raised and the shaft so tinned, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination with a car body and two wheels one side of the car,of a hori' zontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, and brake strap means engagedby said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said twowheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, along arm rigid on the rock shaft and extending approximatelyhorizontally across the end of the car, and means for engaging andholding said arm when said arm has been raised and the shaft so turned,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a car body and two whee at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said two wheelswhen said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, an arm onsaid shaft at the side opposite the crank and extending app matelyhorizontally across the end of the car, whereby the weight of said armwill lift said crank and the brake means when said arm is free andwhereby said arm is made accessible from both sides of the 'car, andmeans for engaging and holding aid arm when said shaft has been turnedto make said engagement, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake strap means engagedby said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagen'i'ent with said twowheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, anarm on said shaft at the side opposite the crank and extendingapproximai' ly horizontally across the end of the car, whereby theweigl-rt of said than will lift .t id arank and the brake means whensaid-arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sidesof the car, and means for engaging and holding said arm when said shafthas been turned to make said engagement, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means engiiged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said wheel whensaid rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, a long arm rigidon the rock shaft and extending approximately horizontally across theend of the car, an upright rack iar for engaging and holding said armwhen said arm has been raised and the shaft so turned, substantially asdescribed.

10. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone'side of the car body and having a crank, means, including a brakestrap, engaged by said crank and adapted to press said strap intoengagement with said wheel when said rock shaft is turned to more saidcrank downward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft and extendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, an upright racktar for engaging and holding said arm when said arm has been raised andthe shaft so turned, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said wheel whensaid rock shaft is turned to more said crank llU downward, an arm onsaid shaft at the side of the latter opposite the crank and extendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, whereby the weightof said arm will lift said crank and the brake means when said arm isfree and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sides of the car,and a rack bar for engaging and holding said arm when said shaft hasbeen turned to make said engagement, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, means, including abrakestrap, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said wheel when said rock shaft is turned to move saidcrank downward, an arm on said shaft at the side of the latter oppositethe crank and extending approximately horizontally across the end of thecar, whereby the weight of said arm will lift said crank and the brakemeans when said arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible fromboth sides of the eaf, and a rack bar for engaging and holding said armwhen said shaft has been turned to make said on gagement, substantiallyas described.

13. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted tobe pressed into engagement with said two wheels whensaid rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, a long arm rigidon the rock shaft and extending approximately horizontally across theend of the car, an up right rack bar for engaging and holding said armwhen said arm has been raised and said shaft so turned, substantially asdescribed.

14. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, and brake strap meansengaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagement withsaid two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crankdownward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft and extending approximatelyhorizontally across the end of the car, an upright rack bar for,engaging and holding said arm when said arm has been raised and saidshaft so turned, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said two wheelswhen said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, an arm onsaid shaft at the side opposite the crank and extending approximatelyhorizontally across the end of the car, whereby the weight of said armwill lift said crank and the brake means when said arm is free andwhereby said arm is made accessible from both sides of the car, and arack bar for engaging and holding said arm when said shaft has beenturned to make engagement, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake strap means engagedby said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said twowheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, anarm on said shaft at the side opposite the crank and extendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, whereby the weightof said arm will lift said crank and the brake means when said 1' n isfree and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sides of the car,and a rack bar for engaging and holding said arm when said shaft hasbeen turned to make said engagement, substantially as described.

1.7. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a hori zontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means, including ahanger, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagementwith said wheel when said rock shaft is turned to move said crankdownward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft and extending approximatelyhorizontally across the ends of the car, and means for engaging andholding said arm when said arm has been raised and the shaft so turned,substantially as described.

18. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, means, including a brakestrap, and a hanger, engaged by said crank and adapted to press saidstrap into engagement with said wheel when said rock shaft is turned tomove said crank downward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft andextending approximately horizontally across the end of the car, andmeans for engaging and holding said arm when said arm has been raisedand the shaft so turned, substantially as described.

19. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means, including ahanger, engaged by said crank and adapter to be presrid into engagementwith said wheel when said rock shaft is turned to move said crankdownward,an arm on said shaft at the side of the latter opposite thecrank and er-ztending approxinmtely horizon tally across the end of thecar, whereby the weight of said arm will lift said crank and the brakemeans when sairfl arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessiblefrom both sides of fhe car, and means for engaging and holding said armwhen said shaft has been turned to mak said engagen'ient, substantiallyas described.

20. The combination with the car body and a wheel at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, means, inclndii abrakestrap and a hanger on red by l and adapted "to be pressed into i,with said. wheel when said rock shair is turned to more said crankdoi'vnward, an arm on said shaft at the side of (he latter opposite thecrank and extending appro51i matcly horizontally across the end of thecar, whereby the weight of i rid arm will lift said crank and the brakemea when said arm is free and whereby saii rm is made acres, ble fromboth sides of the car, and means for engaging and holding said arm whensaid shaft has been inrned to inak said engagement, substantially asdescribed.

'l he combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake means, including ahanger, engaged by said crank and ada iited to be pressed intoengagement with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward, a long arm riy'd on the rock shaft and extendingapproxin'iately horizontally across the end of the air, and means forengaging and holding said arm when said arm has been raised and theshaft so turned, substantially as de scribed.

22. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, and brake strap means,ineluding a hanger, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft and e7;- tendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, andmeans forengaging and holding said arm when said arm has been raised and theshaft so turned, sub stantially as described.

The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of the car,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and SUPPOlLOCl at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brakemeans, including a hanger,engaged. by said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagement withsaid two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crankdownward, an arm on said shaft at the side opposite the crank and ezqtcnding approximately horizontally across the end of the car, whereby theweight of said arnrwill lift said crank and the brake means when saidarm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sides ofthe car, and means for engaging and holding said arm when Said shaft hasbeen turned to make said engagement, substanti ally as described.

24-. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar,of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported at oneside of the car body and having a crank, brake strap means, including ahanger, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed into engagementwith said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crankdownward, an arm on said shaft at'the side opposite the crank andextending approximately horizontally across the end of the car, wherebythe weight of said arm will lift said crank and the brake means whensaid arm is free and whereby said arm is made accessible from both sidesof the car, and means for engaging and holding said arm when said shafthas been turned to make said engagement, substantially as described Thecombination with a car body and two wheels at one side of the car, of ahorizontal. rockshaft arranged parallel-i0 and supported at one side ofthe car body and having a crank, brake means, including two brakestraps, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagen'ient with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward, a long arm rigid on the rock shaft and extendingapproximately horizontally across the end of the car, and means forengaging and holding said arm when said arm has been lifted and theshaft so turned, substantially as described.

26. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of th car body and having a crank, brake means, including twobrake straps, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward a relatively long arm on said shaft at the sideopposite the crank and extending approximately horizontally across theend of the car, whereby the weight of said arm will lift lOO said crankand the brake means when said arm is free and whereby said arm is madeaccessible from both sides of the car, and means for engaging andholding said arm when said shaft has been turned to make saidengagement, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, brake means, including twobrake straps, engaged by said crank and adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward, a relatively long arm on said shaft at the sideopposite the crank, and extending approximately horizontally across theend of the car, whereby the weight of said arm will lift said crank andthe brake means when said arm is free and whereby said arm is madeaccessible from both sides of the car, and a rack bar engaging andholding said arm when said shaft has been turned to make said engagementsubstantially as described.

28. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank elongated parallel to theshaft axis, brake means, including a pair of hangers, engaged by saidcrank and adapted to be pressed into engagement with said two wheelswhen said rockshaft is turned to move said crank downward, an arm onsaid shaft at the side opposite the crank, whereby the weight of saidarm will lift said crank and the brake means when said arm is free, andmeans for engaging and holding said arm when said shaft has been turnedto make said engagement, substantially as described.

29. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, two brakestraps, twohangers on the crank, one being attached to one and the other to theother of said straps, whereby said straps are adapted to be pressed intoengagement with said two wheels when said rock shaft is turned to movesaid crank downward, and means for engaging and holding said rock shaftwhen said shaft has been so turned, substantially as described.

30. The combination with a car body and two wheels at one side of thecar, of a horizontal rock shaft arranged parallel to and supported atone side of the car body and having a crank, two brake straps, hangersjoined to said straps, and a bridge bar separating the hangers, wherebythe straps are adapted to be pressed into engagement with said twowheels when said rock shaft is turned to move said crank downward, andmeans for engaging and holding said rock shaft when said shaft has' beenso turned, substantially as described.

31. In a railway car, a plurality of wheels at one side of the car, astrap brake for each of said wheels, a hanger for each strap brake and acommon mechanism in operative relation with each of said hangers for bydownward pressure simultaneously actuating said hangers and brakes, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this 13th day of April, inthe year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one.

I-IUGH SANFGRD.

